Separator for steam and oil.



l0. E. OLESON.

sEPARAToR ron STEAM AND on.

APPLICATION FILED UG.24| 1914.

Patented May 29,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

0. E. OLESON.

sEPARAToR FOR STEAM AND on.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-24| i914.

Patented May 29, 1917.

l(SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ooooooo L 0. E. OLESON.

SEPARATOR FOR STEAM AND OIL. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, I9I4.

1,228,237; Patented May2'9,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- fk5/ my 0. E. OLESON.

sEPARAToR FOR STEAM AND oIL.

u Y APPLICATION FILED AuG.24. 1914,.v 11512893?, Patented May 29, 1917.

` 4 ySHEETS- suur 4.

UNITED STATES y,PATENT FFICE.

OLAF E. OLESON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE EDWARD MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS` SEPARATOR Fort STEAM AND OIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, reir.

Application led August 24, 1914. Serial No. 858,186. l

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OLAF E. OLnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separatore` for lSteam and Oil, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improved steam separators for separating from steam the water entrained therein, either as a result of being carried from the boiler with the steam or having been formed by partial condensation of the steam after leaving the boiler.

It is well known inthe art that for eertain purposes, such, as for example, the operation of steam turbines, it is necessary to employ dry steam, and my invention provides a construction which is effective for drying steam for this purpose.

My separator also serves to effectively remove from the steam foreign matter, such as mineral matter that may be held in su s pension, so that steam delivered from the separator is not only dry but is practically7 pure. Furthermore, by my construction ample passageways are provided throughout the entire separator so that the steam passes readily therethrough, as a result of which the separator exerts practically no back pressure upon the system.

The principles employed in my separator are-applicable either to a vertical pipe line or a horizontal pipe line, and While these principles of operation are the same in both cases and many of the features of construction are the same, some modification in the separator as a whole is required for a horizontal pipe line from the construction of separator used for a vertical pipe line, and l have, therefore, shown inthe drawings both types of construction. so as to 'clearly disclose the universal applicability of my separator construction to all ofthe varying conditions met in practice.

The several drawings illustrating my invention are as follows: f

Figure 1 shows in vertical, central sectional view the separator construction employed for a vertical pipe line;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2 2;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View of the parts shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 3 3;

Fig. 4L shows a view similar to Fig. 1, of a separator construction for use in a vhorizontal pipe line.;

Fig. 5 is ar vertical sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 taken along the line 5 5, and

Fig. 6 is a yhorizontal vsectional View through the parts shown in Fig. 4 taken along the line 6 6.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the separator construction for a vertical pipe line con sists of a cylindrical shell 10, preferably of sheet metal,V secured by rivets at its lower end to an inclosing head 11, provided at its loweriend -with a ange 12 to be secured to a flange coupling in the pipe line in which the separator is to be used. The upperend ofthe shell 10 is secured by rivets, as indilcated, to a flange coupling 12', which' in' turn is secured by bolts A13 to the lower iange of the upper head 14 of the separator. The head 14; has formed upon its upper end a fiange 15 to be secured to a. flange coupling of the pipe line with which the separator is used. The lower head 11 has extending centrally therethrough a tubular portion 16, having a converging upper end 17 for directingthc steam entering the separator upward and toward the axis of the separator. The-separating units contained within the shell 10 are arranged in two sets, the units 18 and 18 of one set being substantially identical. and alternated with the units 19 of the other set, the latter units being also substantially identical. Each of the units 18 consists of a circular outer wall 20, having an outer diameter somewhat less than theinner diameter of the shell 10, andV this ,circular wall, which is preferably of cast iron, has extending inwardly and upwardly fromit four integral troughs 21 supporting in turn an integral circular trough 22 concentric with the axis of the separator. The `upper edges of the inner ends of the troughs 21 support also the integral conical cover or cap portion 23, which is Hattened and closed at its upper end and extends downward at its lower end tol form the outer wall of the circular trough 22. The under surface of the conical ca or cover 23 is provided with a plurality o cories' rugated ridges 25 extending substantially in the same direction as the elements of the surface of the conical cap. rThe upper ends of the troughs 21 open into the circular trough 22, and the lower ends of the corrugated ridges 25 are disposed over the trough 22, as a result of which steam rojected upward by the upper end of the inlet tube 16 is directed through the opening in the circular trough 22 against the corrugated ridges 25, and any moisture in the steam is caught and held by said ridges together with the impurities held in suspension in the moist steam. The steam, separated to a greater or less degree from its moisture, passes down around the circular trough 22 between the inclined troughs 21, from which point it is free to pass upward through the separator. The water and impurities collected upon the ridges 25 run down these ridges' and drip from them into the circular trough 22, from -which they are delivered by the inclined troughs 21 through outlet openings 26 formed through the circular wall 20 of the unit 18.

The lower unit 18 is supported from the upper edge of the head 11 by a plurality of angle bars 27, so that there is an opening 28 between practically the entire edge of the circular wall 2O and the upper edge of the head 11. rihis opening permits the water and foreign matter which accumulates in the annular space between the outer shell 10 and the circular wall 20 to pass down into the receptacle formed above the head 11, owing to its conical conformation. The head 11 has an outlet connection 29 into which an outlet pipe may be threaded,

and a connection 30 for receiving a gage to indicate the level of the water accumulated in the head 11. 'llhe tubular portion 16 has formed on it an outwardly extending flange 31, upon which the lower edges of the brackets 32A rest, which brackets extend downward from a perforated disk 33 disposed around the upper end of the tubular portion 16 in substantially horizontal position. The disk 33 has an internal diameter substantially the saine as the outer diameter of the upper end of the tubular portion 16, and the perforations 34: formed through this disk are of conical conformation so as to facilitate the collection and delivery through the disk of any water and foreign matter that may be deposited thereon and deliver the same into the receptacle formed by the head 11. rlhe outer edge of the dish 33 is raised slightly above the upper surface of the disk to prevent water accumulated upon the disk from freely passing over the edge of the disk without going through the perforations 341-. yilhe dish 33, besides catching the moisture which may drop upon it, serves as a baiie plate to prevent free access of the steam passing between the inclined 'troughs 21 to the water contained in the receptacle within the head 11. rllhevdisk 33 is held in the position desired by a plurality of bolts 85 threaded into bosses projecting outwardly from the tubular portion 16, as indicated.

Each of the units 19 consists of a circular wall 36, of substantially the same external diameter and thickness as the circular wall 20 of each of the units 1S, and projecting inwardly from about the middle of this circular wall 3G is an upwardly extending conical wall 37, provided with a central circulaiopening 3S, of a diameter somewhat smaller than the external diameter of the conical cap 23. The lower surface of the conical wall 37 is provided with a plurality of ridges 39 substantially parallel with the elements of the conical surface of the wall 87. The circular wall 36 has extending therethrough, just above the lower edge of the wall 37, a plurality off/outlet openings -l-O for discharging into the annular space between-the shell 10 and the circular wall 8G any water and foreign matter that vmay he precipitated upon the upper surface of the conical wall 37, and the ridges 8S) serve to engage. any moisture projected against them by the steam and facilitate the draining of said moisture and foreign mattei' downward and outwardly against the' inner surface of the circular wall 36, from which it drains downward into the receptacle formed in the lower head 1.1.

The steam passing upward from the lower unit 18, as described, has a path of larger cross-sectional area and therefore engages the under surface of the conical wall 3T at a much L,decreased velocity, and the ridges 3.() are effective in separating from the steam the moisture and foreign mattei' which may' be carried thereby, and this steam is then deiiected toward the center of the separator and upwardly through the opening 3S. after which it again engages one of the units 1l and then in turn one of the units 19, and so on to the top of the separator. The outer circulai walls of the units 18 and 1f) together form a circular shell inside of the outer shell lo. so that the clearance spacer bctweeu them forms a receiving passage the water which is protected from the 4s .i an passing upward through the separator and thus the steam is prevented from taking up any of said water or oil and water and iarrying it through the separator and delivering the saine from the outlet opening of c separator. The various units if? and held in the position referred to oy vertical bolts 41 extending through suitable bo formed on the inner surfaces of the circ walls 20 and 3G, the lower ends of bolts being threaded into bosses fornn the lower head i1, and provided at upper ends with nuts to secure this resi ing the upper end of the annularspace just inside of the shell y10, and circulating,

through said space in contact -with the separated water. The upper yconically shaped head 14 has projecting downwardly therelfrom a circular flange 43 of considerably smaller diameter than the screen 42 for engaging and preventing the free escape of the steam from within the screen 42, so that the traces of moisture and foreign matter which may still be carried by the steam may have opportunity to be engaged by the screen and the lower surface of the head 14. Ample space is provided, however, between the lower edge of the flange 43 and the outer surface of the cap of theV unit 18 so that the steam7 after havingbeen thus brought into contact with the screen 42 and the inner surface of the head 14 may readily escape into the discharge opening formed in the head 14.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the arrangement of the separating units 18a, 19a and 18a and the construction of these units is similar to the arrangement and construction of the units 18, 19 and 18 above described, with the exception that these units are contained in a casing and have a modified construction, permitting the use of the separator in a horizontal steam pipe line instead of a vertical. pipe line. The operation of the separating units in this construction is the same as above described, as a result of which it will only be necessary to point out the features of construction which are different from the construction above described. This modified construction of separator consists of a vertical cylindrical casing 44, provided at opposite sides of its upper end with flange couplings 45 and 46 for connecting the separator in the horizontal pipe line, the flange 46 having extending through it into the cylindrical receptacle or casing an inlet opening 47, while the flange 45 has extending through it a similar outlet opening 48.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, each of the units 1S)a and 18a has formed thereon a vertical wall 19b and 18h substantially midway between its center and its outer cylindrical surface, and each of these vertical walls has formed on its upper edge a tongue extending into a corresponding groove formed in the lower edge of the similar vertical wall immediately above it, so that the several vertical walls carried by l/said units may readily be brought into and maintained in alinement with each other to form a continuous vertical wall between the inlet opening 47 and the vertical axis of the separator. The vertical Wall 18c eX- tends so that its upper edge is substantially in the plane of the top of the casing 44 and is engaged by parallel flanges 49 and 50 eX- tending downward from the cap 51 employed to close the upper end of the casing in the manner indicated. The several vertical,l walls referred to constitute a practically continuous wall or partition -across the casing 44, with an uninterrupted opening between them and the side of each unit nearest tothe inlet opening 47, as a result of which steam entering said opening'is directed downward through said uninterrupted passageway to the bottom of the separator where it enters Ithe lowermost separating unit 52, which is circular in conformation and provided with a Wall forming a continuation of the outer circular wall of the units 18a and 19a. The unit 52 is provided with a perforated bottom 53, which facilitates ready passage of moisture and impurities collected in said unit through the bottom thereof into the receptacle provided below. said bottom in the lower spherical end of the casing 44, and a threaded connection `54 is provided in the lower end of the casing 44` to drain from the casing any 'water or oil and impurities that may thus be collected.

The faces of the vertical partitions 18h, 18. and 191 with which the entering steam comes in contact. are provided Awith inclined ridges, as shown in Fig. 5, each ridge having an upper surface in a plane substantially parallel with the axis of the inlet and outlet` openings and a lower surface inclined to said axis. These inclined ridges start from substantially the middle line of the vertical walls or partitions 18".'18c and 19b and extend outwardly toward the outer edge of the walls, being constructed so as to be continuous across the joints between the walls of adjacent units. These provide a means for engaging a considerable part of the moisture that may be carried by the steam entering the separator and draining .it downward and to 'the outer edges ofthe walls, together with the impurities that may be carried with said moisture. The upper edge of the lowermost unit 52 is provided with two cups 55 for receiving the moisture and impurities thus collected which drain down from the outer edges of the said walls into said cups and through the outlet openings in the cylindrical wall of the unit 52, extending into said cups. The steam thus directed into the uni't 52 passes upward into the separator units 19fl and 18a alternately and finally through `the uppermost separatingI unit 18a', from which it is discharged 1 from the separator through the outlet opening 48. The outer cylindrical walls of the separating units are of somewhat smaller external diameter than the internal diamvwalls of the separating units and the casing for receiving the separated water and impurities and directing them downward into the receptacle therefor in the lower part of the casing 44. f

As a result of the construction described in connection with Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be understood that the moisture separated from the steam by the vertical wall, consisting of the several sections 18h, 18c and 19h, is prevented from coming in contact with the steam passing around the lower edge of said vertical wall in the unit 52, which prevents the partially dried steam from again becoming moist before it engages the lowermost separating unit 19a.

`While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, I do not` however` limit myself to these particular constructions, as I may employ any equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my inven'tion-- What I claim is 1.- In a steam separator, the combination of a casing, separatingunits disposed in the casing intwo series, the units of one series alternating with the units of the other series, each of the units of one series having a conically shaped separating wall closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of-the other series having a conical separating wall, open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, a tubular wallv located inside of and separated from said casing, each unit having an having a conically shaped separating wall closed at its'Y upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of the other series having a conical lseparating walll, open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, a tubular wall located inside of and separated from said casing, each unit having an outlet opening or. openings through said tubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the space between said tubular wall and said casing, the lower surface of each conical separating wall being provided with ridges extending substantially parallel with ythe elements of said conical surface, and means in each of the units of the rst series for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface thereof to the outlet opening of said unit. l

3. In a steam separator, the combination of a easing.J separating units disposed in the casing in two series, the units of one series alternating with the units of the other series, each of the units of one series having a conically shaped separating wall closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of the other series having a conical separating wall,open at its upper end and closed at its lower end,

a tubular wall located inside of and separated from said casing, each unit having an outlet opening or openlngs through said Atubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the space between said tubular wall and said casing, a horizontal perforated wall located near the bottom of the casing for preventing ready contact of the steam entering the separator with the separated water, and means in each of the units of the :first series for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface thereof to the outlet opening of said unit.

4. In a steam separator, the combination of a casing, separating units disposed in the casing in two series, the units of one seriesalternating with the units of the other series, each of the units of one series having a conically shaped separating wall closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of the other series having a conical separating wall, open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, a tubular wall located inside of and separated from said casing, each unit having an outlet opening or openings through said tubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the space between said tubular wall the other in the casing upon a common vertical axis, the units of one'series each having a conical separating wall closed at its upper portion and open at its lower portion,

and each of the units of the other series said casing having an outlet opening foreach of the tirst mentioned series of units, and means in each of the units of said first series for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface thereof to the outlet opening of said unit.

G. In a steam separator, the combination of a cylindrical casing, two series of separating units disposed alternately one above the other in the casing upon a common vertical axis, the units of one series each having a conical separating wall closed at its upper portion and open at its lower portion, and each of the units of the other series having a conical separating wall closed at ingfor each of the first mentioned series of units, and means in each of thev units of said first series for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface thereof to the outlet opening of said unit.

7. In a steam separator, the combination of a casing, separating units disposed in the casing in two series, the units of one series alternating with theunits of the other series, each of the units of one series having a conically shaped separating wall closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and each ot' the units of the other series having a conical separating wall open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, a tubular wall located inside of and separated .trom

said casing, each unit having an outlet open- .ing or openings through said tubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the Space between said tubular wall and said casing, and a tubular screen extending vertically from the upper edge of said tubular wall. i

8. In a steam separator, the combination of a casing, separating units dispose-l in the casing in two series, the units of one series alternating with the units of the other series, each of the units of one series having a conically shaped separating wall ciosed at its sie upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of theI other series 1raving a conical sepa ating wall open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, :1 tubular wall located inside of and separated from said casing, each unit havinv' an outlet opening, or openings, through said tubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the space between said tubular wall and said casing, and a tubular screen extending ver tically from the upper edge of said tubulaiwall, a head inclosing the upper end of said casing, and a tubular flange of smaller diameter than said screen projecting downwardly from said head.

9. In a. steaml separator, t'he combination of a'cylindrical casing, a cylindrical tubular wall inside of said casing and separa/ted therefrom, a separating wall Carried within said tubular wall for engaging the moisture in the steam passing through the separator and delivering said moisture to the space between said tubular wall and said casing, said separating wall havingsteam passages between it and said tubular wall, and means for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface of said separating wall to the space between said casing and said tubular wall'. y

10. In a. steam separator, the combination of a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical tubular wall inside of said casing and separated therefrom, anda separating wall carried within said tubular Wall for engaging the moisture in the steam passing through the separator and delivering saidY moisture to the space between said tubular wall and said casing, ridges formed on the under surface ot' the separating wall for increasing the surface of engagement of said wall with the steam passing through the separator, said separating wall having steam passages between it and said tubular wall, and means for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface of said separating `wall to the space between said casing and said tubular wall.

1l. In a steam separator, the combination of a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical tubular wall inside of said casing and separated the?. from, and a separating wall carried within said tubular wall for engaging the moisture in the steam passing` through the. separator and delivering said moisture to the space between said tubular wall and said casing, a lower head for said casing having an inlet opening therethrough, a horizontal partition carried by the vupper end of said head, said separating wall havingr steam passages between it and said tubular Vall, and means for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface of separating wall to the space between said casing and said tubular wall.

l2. In a steam separator, the combination -for conducting water and foreign material from the separating surface of said separating wall to the space between said easing i and said tubular wall.

13. In a steam separator, the combination ofa casing, two series of separating units disposed alternately one above the other in the casing, the units of one series 'each having a conical separating wall closed at its upper portion and open at its lower portion, and each of the units of the other series having a conical separating'wall closed at its lower portion and open at its upper portion to engage the moisture contained in the vsteam passing through the separator, a circular trough located below the lower edge of each of the conical walls oi' said first series of units, and a trough or troughs extending transversely of the casing from said circular trough for directing the separated moisture toward the side wall of the easing.

14E. ln a steam separator, the combination of a casing, separating units disposed in the casing in two series, the units of one series alternating with the units of the other series, each of the units of one series having .a conically shaped separating wall closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of the other series having a conical separating wall open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, a tubular wall located inside of and separated from said casing, and each unit having an outlet opening or openings through said tubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the space between said tubular wall and said casing, each of the units of said firstseries having a circular'trough disposed below 'the lower edge of its conical separating surface, and a trough or troughs connecting saidcircular trough with the outlet opening or openings through said tubular Wall.

15. ln' a steam separator, the combination of a casing, separating units disposed in the casing in two series, the units of one series alternating with the units of the other series, each of the units of one series having a conieally shaped separating wall closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of the other series having a conical separating wall open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, a tubular wall located inside of and separated from said casing, each unit having an outlet opening or openings through said tubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the space between said tubular wall and said casing, and a tubular screen extending vertically from the upper edge oi' said tubular wall, a head inelosing the upper end of said casing, and a tubular flange of smaller diameter than said screen projecting down'- wardly from said head, said upper head. forming the outlet connection ot' said separator, and a second head inclosing the lower end of said casing and constituting the inlet connection of said separator. i

1G. In a steam separator, the combination of a easing, separating units disposed in the casing in two series, the units of one series alternating with the units of the other series, each of the units of one series having a conically shaped 'separating wall closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, and each of the units of the other series having a conical separating tvall open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, a tubular wall located inside of and separated from said casing, each unit having an outlet opening or openings through said tubular wall to deliver water and foreign matter into the space between said tubular wall andlsaid casing, and a tubular screen eX- tending vertically from the upper edge of said tubular wall, a head inclosing the upper end of said casing, and a tubular liange of smaller diameter than said screen projecting downwardly from said head, said upper head forming `the outlet connection of said separator, and a second head inclosing the lower end of said casing and constituting the inlet connection of said separator, and a horizontal perforated wall carried by said second head.

In witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 17 day of August, A. D. 19t-l.

OLAF E. OLESON. lvitnesses:

TRACY, ALBERT C. BELL. 

